STDCM urges Govt to uphold court's order
MSI seeks clear stand from Meetei MLAs on ST demand
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, April 27 2023: While declaring that the committee has suspended all forms of agitation in the wake of the high court's directive for sending recommendation to the Centre for inclusion of Meetei/Meitei in ST list of Indian Constitution, Scheduled Tribe Demand Committee Manipur (STDCM) has urged the state government to act in accordance with the court's order and work in the interest of the people.

Addressing media persons at Manipur Press Club, here, on Thursday, STDCM president Dhiraj Yumnam said that Meetei/Meitei people are seeking ST status so that the community gets Constitutional safeguard similar to such provision in the hills.

While conveying that pressure was mounted on both the state and the central governments for the sake of the endangered community, he clarified that there is no question of Meetei/Meitei community snatching entitlements/rights of other indigenous communities living together in the state or infringing on their rights by demanding ST status.

Further stating that the demand was made in the general interest of all the communities, the president reminded that demanding Constitutional safeguard for the Meetei/Meitei by listing the community in the ST list of Indian Constitution, an organisation named Meetei Tribe Union filed a writ petition at the High Court of Manipur and the same court on April 19 directed the state government to send necessary recommendation to the Centre within four weeks' time.

However, some organisations based in the hills like ATSUM, HAC, UNC and others not only reacted in contravention of the court's ruling but also spread false propaganda among the people.

Such propaganda of depicting the Meetei/Meitei as selfish, chauvinistic, day-dreamer and putting unrealistic demand indeed was condemnable, he said.

While appealing to communities who have already secured ST status and lived together as brothers since time immemorial not to interfere against the demand, Dhiraj Yumnam said that misunderstanding, if any, could be discussed and deliberated through dialogue while maintaining that the Meetei/Meitei community settling in the valley have no enmity against hill dwellers.

He also called upon leaders of civil society organisations, intellectuals and other people to work together for maintaining peace and harmony in the state.

Meanwhile, in the wake of the objection raised by Hill Areas Committee (HAC) of the state legislative assembly to the ST demand for Meetei/Meitei community, Meitei Students' Association has categorically stated that it is time for Meetei MLAs to declare their stand on this demand, which is being raised for the safeguard of the community and present imminent marginalisation in their own land.

Addressing a press meet on Thursday, MSA finance secretary Karam Bhupendra recalled how the HAC raised objection against the ST demand following the directive of the High Court of Manipur to send the recommendation in response to the letter of the ministry seeking.

Considering the gravity of the situation, it is time for the Meetei MLAs to play their part in ensuring a safe future for the community.

They should join together and raise a collective voice for the community, he said.

Questioning the reason for opposing the ST demand, the secretary said that the demand for ST status by Meeteis is not meant for snatching away the benefits being enjoyed by the ST communities of the state but to secure constitutional safeguard for the community.

Instead of just opposing the demand, they could suggest other ways to protect the community if there is any, he said.

Bhupendra also denounced objection raised from some among the Meetei community and questioned their logic while explaining the grim situation in which the community is surviving today in the absence of any constitutional safeguard.

He further clarified that Meeteilol getting included in the 8th Schedule of Constitution cannot be a ground for rejecting the ST status.

One could take the example of Bodo community, whose language is included in the 8th Schedule.

He then demanded the government to uphold the directive of the High Court and take up necessary steps for sending the required recommendation at the earliest possible.

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